Dr. Bekkali: Next Generation free-space optical Communication Systems: Concept, Challenges and Research Directions

Overview

Abstract

The ever-increasing demand for higher data rates communication services, has led to the innovation of new advanced technologies and techniques over communication systems with the ultimate goal to fulfill the requirements of the B5G/6G networks. In this context, Free space optics (FSO) communication systems are re-gaining attraction as a promising wireless interconnecting technology for high-capacity and low-latency communication networks, ensuring data rates similar to those offered by optical fiber systems but at a fraction of its deployment cost. 
In this talk, we first review the main advantages and practical challenges of the FSO systems and links.  We then give an overview of the recent trends of IR based FSO systems for the B5G/6G era, including the transceiver design and system architecture. Finally, we discuss the potential integration of FSO with mmWave and THz links for reliable communication and wider coverage area.

Brief Biography

Abdelmoula Bekkali received M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan, in 2007 and 2010, respectively. He is currently R&D Manager at TOYO Electric Corporation, where he is leading the development of Gigabit FSO systems for fixed and mobile platforms. Previously, he worked as Senior Researcher with KDDI Research Inc. (2014-2019),  Adjunct Lecturer at Waseda Univ. (2012-2019), Japan, Research Scientist at Qatar Mobility Innovation Center (QMIC), Qatar (2011-2014) and Researcher at NTT Labs, Tokyo, Japan (2010-2011). 

Bekkali is recipient of 2016 KDDI Excellent Research Award, 2009 Waseda University Ono Azusa memorial Gold medal, the 26th Telecom System Technology Award from the Telecommunication Advancement Foundation (TAF) of Japan. He also received best paper awards of IEICE transactions (2009, 2015), IIEEJ Journal (2012), and IEEE WCNC conference (2014). 

He is currently PI of JPY 2.4 billion (~USD 20 million) NICT project (0050105, 2021-2025) entitled “Ultra-high capacity Integrated Terahertz and Optical Wireless communication system for Beyond 5G Networks”. He also served as ONS symposium co-chair of IEEE Globecom2020. He holds 10 granted Japanese patents.

His R&D interests include Optical wireless communication, Free-space optics systems, Fiber-wireless systems, millimeter-wave communications, microwave photonics and RFID systems.  Bekkali is an IEEE Senior member.